Proverbs 15:24

²⁴ The path of life leads upward for the wise 
That he may keep away from ^[r]Sheol below. 
 


When I read this verse I can't help but be reminded of the journey of Christian in the book Pilgrim's Progress. This is a New Year. A time of new beginnings. How about instead of making resolutions...just maybe focus on staying on the path of life without straying to and fro. We are all bound to trip up once in a while but if we keep our focus where it should be then we will find that instead of hard falls we just have little stumbles. 


I did want to point out one thing. Where did that path lead? UPWARD. I used to hike. Alot. Every morning I would get up around 3 or 4 a.m. and go hiking before the kids awoke. (before Stephen came along). Oh how I miss those morning times with my God in His creation--ah but I've let my mind wander. Even though I used to hike all of the time; and I will tell you that I pushed myself, there never was a hill that wasn't hard to climb. On the other hand, I've never climbed a hill/mountain without feeling total joy when reaching the top.


What things can you change spiritually so that your focus will stay on the upward path?

Proverbs 14: 11-12

11-The house of the wicked will be destroyed, But the tent of the upright will flourish.

12-There is a way which seems right to a man, But it's end is the way of death.

Verse 12 is one of those highly quoted, often memorized Proverbs. So...if it is so highly thought of, why in the world are there so many that follow the wrong path?

Ahh, before you judge, let me show you a few paths. If given the choice, would you rather take this path:

Or this?

Now, I ask you...which is the worst for your body? 

Oh, wait. let's go to a different destination...

Let's say you had a movie night with your friends this past weekend. 

Did you choose to see this:

(Which I will review on Monday on the other blog)

or did you choose to watch this?

Which is the path that pleases God?

Best look up Psalm 119:105 again.

Today in your journal/prayer time, make a list of 'wrong' paths that you take and ask God for forgiveness and help to take the correct path.

--Tonya--

Proverbs 12: 10-11

Verse 10-- As we go along this journey of trying to become like Christ, we find that being righteous is part of every aspect of our lives...even to the detail of how we treat our animals. Now, I am not saying that we should become a group of crazy animal rights activists, but we do need to make sure that we are taking care of God's creation that He has given us.

Verse 11--I think this verse is all about focus. We have to keep our focus on the path God has laid before us. We cannot expect others to walk our path, and wondering away to pursue some other path is just plain stupid. (My translations says"lacks sense" but that pretty much translates 'stupid' to me) And, you know what? I have shaken my head at myself and said, "That was so stupid to do!" so many times!!  I need a little reminder to keep my focus where it should be.

This song always reminds me where to keep my focus...